 Norwegian Forest Cat vs. Abyssinian Cat. What are the differences between these two cat breeds? The Norwegian Forest Cat is notable for its long, thick, beautiful coat and large size. The head has an inverted triangle shape, pointed at the chin and then widening on each side up toward the medium to large ears, which are heavily tufted. Large, almond-shaped eyes are green, gold or copper, although white cats may have blue eyes or odd eyes, one blue eye and one eye have another color. The moderately long body looks powerful, with its broad chest and heavily muscled thighs. The weatherproof double coat varies in length. The bid begins with a short color at the neck, mutton chops on the side and a full frontal rough. Full britches, long hair on the thighs, cover the hind legs. On the body the coat is long and flowing, but it changes with the seasons. The abye is often said to look as if he had just walked straight out of the wild. That's because of his ticked coat pattern, which resembles that of wild cats such as Cougars. A ticked coat has alternating light and dark bands of color on each hair shaft. Everything about him suggests is lively, a tenet nature. The abye has a slightly rounded wedge shaped head topped with large, broad ears, the better to hear you with. Large, almond-shaped eyes of gold or green express interest in everything they see. The muscular body is graceful and athletic. It falls into a middle ground between the stocky or cubby, body of a breed such as the Persian and the long, svelte body of the Oriental breed such as the Siamese. The body is supported by slim, fine-boned legs atop small, oval, compact paws. Abye's are often said to look as if they are walking on tiptoe. Swishing behind them is a long, tapering tail. Hello. This video is sponsored by Beemix Pets. Are you looking for high quality cat collars at an affordable cost? Check out, BeemixPets.com. Use coupon code KittenLife, to get 20% off. The Norwegian forest cat is satisfied to be in the same room with people and will entertain himself if no one is home. Although he appreciates human company, he can be a bit reserved with visitors. Even with family, he's not much of a lap cat, but a nice screech between the ears or beneath the chin is always welcome, and he'll usually reciprocate with a nice head butt or cheek rub. He communicates with classic Scandinavian restraint. His quiet voice is employed only when he needs something, dinner on time, perhaps, and rises only if he is ignored. Not surprisingly, this large and athletic cat is a climber. You will often find him at the highest point he can reach in the home, and unlike some cats, he doesn't have any qualms about descending trees or other heights at first. Thanks to his heritage as a wilderness and farm cat, not to mention his waterproof coat, the Ouija thinks nothing of fishing in a body of water for a nice meal. Aquarium at Koi Pond Innocence, beware. While he loves the outdoors, he is content to live quietly in a home. This is a smart, independent cat who learns quickly and has an alert nature. He likes to play and thrives with a busy family that loves him. Of all the cat breeds, the Abyssinian is perhaps the one who lives life to the fullest. He climbs higher, jumps farther, plays harder. Nothing escapes the notice of this highly intelligent and inquisitive cat, a quality that makes life with him both endlessly entertaining and continuously challenging. Staying a step ahead of an Abai, as the breed is nicknamed, or even just keeping pace with him, requires the fancy footwork of a frettist heir, the brain power of an Einstein and a sense of humor that never stops. You never know what he'll get into next, although you can assume that if you have something or are doing something, your Abai will want to investigate it closely. Some people refer to the cats as Abai grabbies because of their propensity for taking things that catch their interest. Sometimes it may seem as if the Abai never sleeps. He is ever in motion, jumping up in the window to look at birds or squirrels, leaping on top of the refrigerator to supervise meal preparation, perching on your desk to watch your fingers move over the keyboard, and then swiping at them so you'll pay attention to him instead. This is a playful, persistent cat who adores being the center of attention and will do anything to achieve and maintain that status. The Abai loves to play, so plan on making or purchasing a variety of toys to keep him occupied. Ping pong balls, bottle caps, wadded up pieces of paper, puzzle toys and teasers such as big peacock feathers will all amuse this busy and brainy cat. Teach him to retrieve at your peril. Once you start, he won't let you stop, he learns tricks quickly and many Abais enjoy running a feline agility course. A love of heights is a signal trait of the Abesinian. He likes to be as high up as possible and will appreciate having one or more ceiling height cat trees. When those aren't available, he is perfectly capable of making his way to the uppermost point of any room. Fortunately, he is naturally graceful and rarely breaks items unless it is simply out of curiosity. Abais are adaptable throughout their lives and fit well into any home where they are loved and given plenty of attention. In a home where people are at work or school during the day, the Abai does best with a companion, ideally another Abai, who can match his activity level. If left to his own devices, the Abai may well dismantle the house in his search for something interesting to do. Beware. The Abai can be addictive. Once you've had one, you may find that no other cat will do. Brush or comb the Norwegian forest cats long coat once or twice a week, using a bristle brush, wire slicker brush or stainless steel comb. If you run across tangles, work them out gently so you don't hurt the cat. A bath is rarely necessary, which is a good thing. With a Ouija's practically waterproof coat, it can be very difficult to get him wet enough for a bath. The short, fine coat of the Abasinian is easily cared for with weekly combing to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils. A bath when the cat is shedding will help to remove excess hair more quickly. Brush the teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Daily dental hygiene is best, but weekly brushing is better than nothing. Wipe the corners of the eyes daily with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye so you don't run the risk of spreading any infection. Check the ears weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball or soft damp cloth moistened with a 50 to 50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the interior of the ear. Keep the litter box spotlessly clean. Like all cats, they are very particular about bathroom hygiene. A clean litter box will also help to keep their fur clean. It's a good idea to keep them as an indoor only cats to protect them from diseases spread by other cats, attacks by dogs or coyotes, and the other dangers that face cats who go outdoors, such as being hit by a car. Cats who go outdoors also run the risk of being stolen by someone who would like to have such a beautiful cat without paying for it. The friendly, laid-back Norwegian forest cat is a perfect choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. He loves the attention he receives from children who treat him politely and with respect, and he doesn't mind playing dress up or going for a ride in a baby buggy. He is happy to live with other cats and cat-friendly dogs, too, thanks to his amiable disposition. Introduce pets slowly and in controlled circumstances to ensure that they learn to get along together. The active and social Abyssinian is a perfect choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. He will play fetch as well as any Retriever, learns tricks easily and loves the attention he receives from children who treat him politely and with respect. He's smart enough to get out of the way of toddlers but loves school-age children because they are a match for his energy level and curiosity. Nothing scares him, certainly not dogs, and he will happily make friends with them if they don't give him any trouble. Abyssinians have also been known to get along with large parrots, ferrets and other animals. Always introduce any pets, even other cats, slowly and in a controlled setting. If you enjoyed this video, kindly press the like button. Also don't forget to subscribe with notifications on, so that you don't miss out on videos like this. Thank you for watching.